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Kirkpatrick’s Closing Argument: McCain Picked Palin, Backed Trump

Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona is a long shot to win her race

Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick has not been able to get much traction in her challenge to Sen. John McCain. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick has not been able to get much traction in her challenge to Sen. John McCain. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick has her closing argument, and it looks an awful lot like Donald Trump.

The latest TV ad from the Arizona Democratic nominee for Senate focuses on Sen. John McCain’s prior support for the Republican presidential nominee, arguing that he put his own re-election above the interests of the American public even when he later withdrew his endorsement. 

The 30-second spot also mentions the GOP senator’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate during the 2008 presidential race — something the congresswoman’s campaign mentioned in a previous ad.

“The John McCain I once voted for wouldn’t have chosen Sarah Palin or endorsed Trump,” Kirkpatrick says, sitting at a kitchen table and looking into the camera. “John’s changed. He cares only his re-election.”

[Kirkpatrick Raises $3 Million in Third Quarter]

McCain withdrew his support of Trump earlier this month after video emerged of the New York billionaire from 2005 bragging about groping and kissing women. 

McCain is a heavy favorite to win a sixth term on Nov. 8 — neither party considers Arizona a top-tier Senate battleground despite its competitiveness in the presidential race.

The longtime incumbent Republican remains popular with many moderate voters, despite a concerted effort by Democrats to depict him as just another GOP politician. The latest RealClearPolitics average of recent polls has McCain up by double digits. 

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates the race as Republican Favored

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